Tibbetts and Steinle deaths: It’s high time to reform US immigration system

On July 1, 2015, Kate Steinle, 32, was walking with her father on a pier in San Francisco when a shot rang out. Kate collapsed in her father’s arms and when he checked her, he discovered a gunshot wound in her side. She was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital. Investigation later revealed she was accidentally shot by an undocumented immigrant using a gun he found under a bench nearby. The suspect had been ordered deported from the US but due to San Francisco’s policy on limiting cooperation with immigration authorities, he remains in the city untouched by ICE. He was later acquitted of murder and was sentenced only for gun possession.

Mollie Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student, was last seen jogging on July 18, 2018 in the town of Brooklyn, Iowa. When she did not report for work the following day her family reported her missing. On August 21, 2018, a dead body was found in a cornfield which a later autopsy revealed was Mollie, she had died by multiple sharp force injuries. A suspect was apprehended who turned out to be a 24-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico working under a different name who also carried a matching government-issued photo ID and social security number.

These two cases and others are the latest lighting rods for Trump and all anti-immigrant groups who want stricter and tougher immigration policies. They claim these deaths would never have happened if immigration laws are forcefully implemented. All the more Trump vigorously advocates for building his wall, universal verification of foreign workers, banning certain nationalities, cutting off funding for cities and states that do not cooperate with ICE apprehensions, stopping family unifications and other more stringent measures. The Democrats, on the other hand, say crimes like this do not happen all the time and could just happen to anyone and be committed by anyone, even by a non-immigrant.

We all acknowledge the grief and suffering of the victims’ families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they confront this grim reality. We also can agree that there has to be a sense of urgency on the part of our lawmakers to improve our immigration system in ensuring the safety of this country and its people. Politicizing these tragedies and using victims in order to advance a vested agenda either from the Democrats or Republicans will only further derail any reformation efforts. If at all, these agonies will just come to naught and this issue momentarily gets sidelined until the next Mollie or Kate gets the national attention.

This column is not a substitute for professional legal advice obtained from a US-licensed immigration attorney. The information contained herein does not constitute a warranty or guarantee or legal advice regarding a reader’s specific immigration case. No attorney-client relationship is and shall be established with any reader.

For any questions, comments and observations, please contact Atty. Marco Tomakin at [email protected]